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Although I don't see the UserControl property ... this is from the Help File:

"When an application is launched by the user, the Visible and UserControl properties of the Application object are both set to True. When the UserControl property is set to True, it isn't possible to set the Visible property of the object to False." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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Here is the entire UserControl Help:
UserControl Property
See AlsoApplies ToExampleSpecificsYou can use the UserControl property to determine whether the current Microsoft Access application was started by the user or by another application with Automation, formerly called OLE Automation. Read/write Boolean.

expression.UserControl
expression Required. An expression that returns one of the objects in the Applies To list.

Remarks
The UserControl property uses the following settings.

Setting Description
True The current application was started by the user.
False The current application was started by another application with Automation.

You can determine the UserControl property setting only by using Visual Basic.

This property is read-only in all views when user starts the Access application. If Microsoft Access is started by OLE Automation, the UserControl property can be set in Visual Basic.

When an application is launched by the user, the Visible and UserControl properties of the Application object are both set to True. When the UserControl property is set to True, it isn't possible to set the Visible property of the object to False.

When an Application object is created by using Automation, the Visible and UserControl properties of the object are both set to False.

Example
The following example displays a message indicating whether Access was started by the user.

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As far as I can see the problem lies with the replacement of text: So far I can open ppt from another application without making it visible and for instance create a new presentation, put some boxes in place all without making ppt visible and it works fine.

Creating a ppt can be done invisible but at least opening via this method requires visibility. Now need to establish alternative method(s) of opening the app but at least I understand where it fails now.